TOMAH -- Theodore
"Ted" R. Hillert, age 86, was called to eternal rest on June 24,
2006, passing away unexpectedly at his home in Tomah.

Ted was born on
Aug. 3, 1919, in the town of Grant, Clark County, to Richard and
Amelia (Trimberger) Hillert. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion
Lutheran Church, Granton. He graduated from Granton High School in
1938 and then attended River Falls State Teachers College and was
drafted into the Army in May 1941. Ted proudly served his country
with the 799th Engineer Forestry Company in Alaska, Germany and the
Philippines. After he was honorably discharged from the service in
December 1945, he returned to River Falls State Teachers College,
where he received his BS degree in agricultural education in 1949.
He later earned his MS degree in agricultural education at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.

On Aug. 24, 1946,
he was united in marriage to Lois E. Grass at Bethlehem Lutheran
Church in Evanston, Ill. In 1949 he accepted the position of
coordinator of the GI On-the Farm-Training program for returning
World War II veterans who wished to farm in the Tomah School
District. In 1951 he accepted a position of full time vocational
agriculture instructor in the Tomah School District, teaching high
school classes and young and adult farmers. In 1969 he accepted a
position with Western Wisconsin Technical College of LaCrosse as
farm management instructor. He continued in this work until
retirement in 1982.

Ted and his family
joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tomah in 1950. He was a faithful
member there and served in various capacities, including treasurer,
trustee and many years as head usher. He was a long-time member of
the Tomah Lions Club. During his teaching years, he was active with
the Monroe County Fair and served as superintendent of the swine
division. He is a lifetime member of the National FFA and a member
of the Wisconsin Retired Teachers Association and WEAC.

He enjoyed hunting
and fishing, especially surf fishing at South Padre Island in the
winters. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather,
great-grandfather and brother as well as a great Christian role
model.

He is survived by
his daughter, Susan (James) Shea of Elk Mound; three sons, Mark
(Pam) of De Pere, David (Judith) of River Falls and Brian (Kim) of
Chippewa Falls; five grandchildren, Bradley, Conor and Sydney
Hillert, and Donovan and Michael Shea. Also survived by a
step-grandson, Christopher Todd of Georgia, and a
step-granddaughter, Stasia Robbie, River Falls, as well as one
great-grandson, Austin Lynum. Additionally, he is survived by a
brother, Dr. Richard (Gloria) Hillert of Melrose Park, Ill.; a
sister-in-law, Edna (Hasz) Grass of Rothschild; three nieces and
three nephews. Also surviving are cousins from and still living in
the Granton/Neillsville area, as well as a host of friends.

In addition to his
parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, on Nov. 11,
2002, after 56 years of marriage.